London area of Notting Hill guide

What to do and where to stay in London's Notting Hill neighbourhood

The incredible diversity of an area that contained some of the most expensive houses in the Capital next to some of the roughest council estates caused riots in 1958, but in the 1970s and 1980s, the potent mixture of Mediterranean, Caribbean, and half-a-dozen other London cultures led to an extraordinary flowering. The record shops of Portobello Road and Ladbroke Grove became home to London’s reggae and punk scenes, and artists, musicians, and writers moved into the area. Traditionally, this isn't a hub for tourists so hotels haven't flourished but it is a vibrant place to spend some time. The southern end of Notting Hill has become thoroughly gentrified, but in the north there is still a vibrant cultural and musical life, and the weekly market remains one of London’s most colourful. The last weekend of August is when Notting Hill returns to its roots, as almost the entire area is taken over by Carnival, Europe’s biggest and best street party.